If you are looking for a new golf ball, you may struggle to choose between the Bridgestone E12 Soft and E12 Contact balls. These are both great, affordable options to help improve your game, but they have some important differences worth knowing before you decide.
The E12 Soft golf balls have the softest compression available in Bridgestone golf balls. So, they work best for golfers with a slow swing who need more help from the ball. E12 Contact golf balls offer more distance and launch as they are slightly firmer.
Let’s break down these two golf balls in more detail to help you find the right one.
Bridgestone E12 Soft vs. E12 Contact: What You Need To Know
| Details | E12 Soft | E12 Contact |
| Spin | Mid | Low |
| Launch | Mid | High |
| Compression | Softest | Soft |
| Distance | Average | High |
These two golf balls may appear very similar, but you can tell the difference as soon as you feel them. The E12 Soft is one of the softest golf balls available, and you can feel the softness just by touch. The E12 Contact is slightly firmer but offers many benefits from a soft golf ball.
E12 Soft
The Bridgestone E12 Soft golf ball is very soft and benefits golfers with a slow swing speed.
If you are a beginner, senior, or amateur golfer, this ball can help you get the most out of your shots, even if your swing speed is not high. If your average swing is 83 mph (134 kph) or below, this ball can help you increase your distance.
The softness of the E12 Soft golf ball allows it to react to your swing and gives you more distance. This happens because the club face comes in contact with the ball, causing it to compress and bounce back into its previous shape.
As the ball resumes its previous shape, this causes it springs forward, giving you a more powerful shot and distance.
If your swing speed is higher than 83 mph (134 kph), you will begin to lose distance rather than gain it. This loss of distance comes from the ball compressing and returning to its form too slowly to increase your shot distance. Using the E12 Soft golf balls requires a low swing speed to get the most out of them.
E12 Contact
The Bridgestone E12 Contact golf ball will better suit players with a swing speed between 84 and 96 mph (135 – 154 kph). While this golf ball does compress, it is not as soft.
So, the ball can withstand a faster swing speed as it compresses and bounces back. If your swing speed is too low, the ball will not compress as much when you contact it.
In addition to compression, the E12 Contact golf ball gives you high distance and launch. The distance comes from the slightly harder core compared to the E12 Soft ball. That hardness also allows these golf balls to launch higher than the others. This is best for intermediate players who already have the basics established but want to better their shots.
Final Thoughts
Overall, these two golf balls seem similar but suit different players. The E12 Soft golf ball will better fit beginners and seniors who do not have a fast swing speed. Alternatively, the E12 Contact golf ball is best for intermediate players who still need help getting better.